MSV News

Irondale and Mounds View delivered one of the tightest duals of the season Thursday night, trading momentum swings across the lineup before the Knights used late relay firepower to escape with a 94–92 varsity victory.

Mounds View set the tone early in the 200 medley relay, where the A quartet of Danny Bai, Andrew Higley, Ben Lawrence, and Grayson Then clicked from start to finish to win in 1:50.66. That early relay execution gave the Mustangs the first edge on the scoreboard and hinted at the depth they would lean on throughout the night, even as Irondale stayed within striking distance by placing its A relay just behind.

Irondale answered immediately in the 200 freestyle behind Lucas Megahan, who separated himself early and never looked back on the way to a commanding win in 1:44.32. While Mounds View stacked points behind Holden Then and Grayson Then, Megahan’s front-end speed flipped the team score and injected early confidence into the Knights’ lineup.

That momentum carried into the 200 IM, where Kai Nelson put together a smooth, controlled race to win in 2:09.09. Nelson’s versatility gave Irondale another critical scoring punch, though Mounds View stayed glued to the Knights thanks to a strong second-place swim from Sammy Snider, preventing the meet from tilting too far in one direction.

Sprint speed belonged to Irondale in the 50 freestyle, as Isaac Botten surged off the blocks and held the field at bay to win in 23.08. The Knights followed with additional scoring depth, tightening the screws before the meet reached one of its biggest inflection points on the diving boards.

That swing came in a big way for Mounds View. Charlie Hieb led a dominant performance in 1-meter diving, winning with a score of 216.80 as the Mustangs stacked the top of the standings. The diving event proved to be one of the largest point shifts of the night, pulling Mounds View back into the lead and shifting the energy on deck.

Irondale stopped that surge in the 100 butterfly, where Megahan returned with another statement swim, winning in 53.48. The butterfly win steadied the Knights and kept the dual on a knife’s edge as the meet moved into the second half.

Mounds View countered in the 100 freestyle behind Bai, who delivered one of the fastest swims of the night, touching first in 46.77. That win reignited the Mustangs’ push and brought the team race back to a near deadlock heading into the distance events.

The 500 freestyle swung momentum yet again, this time in Mounds View’s favor. Snider controlled the race from the opening lengths and closed strong to win in 5:26.35, with Grayson Then adding valuable points behind him. The Mustangs briefly reclaimed the edge, setting the stage for a dramatic closing stretch.

Relays proved decisive for Irondale. In the 200 freestyle relay, the Knights’ A team of Botten, Samuel Reichert, Nelson, and Finneus Rosivach exploded off the blocks and never relinquished the lead, winning in 1:33.88 and swinging the meet back in Irondale’s direction with just three events remaining.

Nelson followed that relay with another clutch performance in the 100 backstroke, winning in 1:00.50 to extend the Knights’ advantage and put pressure squarely on Mounds View. The Mustangs answered in the breaststroke, where Lawrence delivered a timely win in 1:04.76, trimming the gap and ensuring the meet would come down to the final relay.

With the team score hanging in the balance, Irondale sealed the victory in the 400 freestyle relay. The quartet of Botten, Reichert, Nelson, and Megahan finished the night with authority, touching first in 3:22.48 and holding off Mounds View’s top relay to secure the narrow dual win.

Bloomington Kennedy leaned on early relay speed and steady depth through the middle of the meet to earn an 81–72 varsity victory over Fridley in a dual that stayed competitive into the final relay on Tuesday night.

Fridley struck first in the 200 medley relay, as the quartet of Carlo Martinez Alonso, Wyatt Engelman, Quinn Henrikson, and Wyatt Olson captured the win in 1:54.49, giving the Tigers an early boost before Kennedy settled into the meet. The Eagles answered right away in the 200 freestyle, where Isaac Wirebaugh controlled the race and won in 2:18.86, flipping momentum back to Kennedy and tightening the team score.

Fridley regained the edge in the 200 IM behind Engelman, who won in 2:33.96, but Kennedy stayed close with scoring swims from Bear Merida, keeping the dual within reach heading into the sprints. Speed favored Fridley in the 50 freestyle, where Henrikson led a one-two finish in 24.66, followed closely by Olson, creating one of the Trojans’ strongest point swings of the night.

With no varsity points scored in diving, the meet turned quickly to the butterfly, where Fridley again delivered as Henrikson picked up his second individual win in 1:01.07. Kennedy answered in the 100 freestyle behind Olson, who won in 57.38, trimming the gap and keeping the Eagles in striking position entering the distance events.

Distance proved pivotal for Kennedy. Wirebaugh doubled back to win the 500 freestyle in 6:41.23, and Merida followed in second, producing a key point swing that pushed the Eagles back in front with just relays and stroke events remaining.

Fridley kept the pressure on in the 200 freestyle relay, where the A relay of Martinez Alonso, Engelman, Henrikson, and Olson won in 1:41.61, pulling the Tigers back within reach as the meet headed into the final individual races.

Kennedy answered when it mattered most in the 100 backstroke, with Ben Jones taking the win in 1:04.78 to give the Eagles breathing room. That momentum carried straight into the breaststroke, where Henry Firnhaber delivered a crucial victory in 1:08.84, extending Kennedy’s lead before the final relay.

The Eagles sealed the team win in the 400 freestyle relay, as Javi Cruz, Wirebaugh, Jones, and Firnhaber closed the night with a win in 4:03.23, preventing Fridley from mounting a last-event comeback and locking in the dual victory.

Mankato West used depth through the middle of the lineup and a strong close in the stroke events to earn a 99–83 varsity victory over New Prague in a dual that stayed competitive into the late relays.

The meet opened with a tight, tone-setting win in the 200 medley relay, as Mankato West’s A group grabbed the early edge (1:49.73) over New Prague’s A relay (1:50.17). The Scarlets backed that up immediately in the 200 freestyle, where Isaac Sanderson set the pace and won (1:56.70), keeping momentum on Mankato West’s side before the meet hit its first big turning point.

That swing came in the 200 IM, where Mankato West controlled the event from the top and Sam Simmons won (2:17.33), part of a strong Scarlets push that kept New Prague from leveling the score. The sprint spotlight followed in the 50 free, and Mankato West delivered again as Ian Ray touched first (23.60), edging the Trojans in a quick, high-energy race that kept the home team chasing.

New Prague steadied itself on the boards, but Mankato West still banked critical points in diving behind Corbin Deichman, who won the 1-meter event (220.45). The Trojans responded with their own jolt in the 100 butterfly, where Grady Neisen surged to the win (1:00.15), giving New Prague a needed momentum boost as the meet turned toward the back half.

Mankato West answered with another stabilizing win in the 100 freestyle as Sanderson completed his double (51.37), keeping the Scarlets in control heading into the distance grind. That’s where Mankato West created more breathing room: Armin Stanglmaier won the 500 freestyle (5:34.32), a key mid-meet separator that made New Prague’s closing push more difficult.

The Trojans didn’t fold — they fired back in the relays late. New Prague’s A relay won the 200 free relay (1:34.91) in a razor-thin finish over Mankato West, and that surge carried into the final event as the Trojans also captured the 400 free relay (3:49.99), tightening the final margin and giving the end of the meet real juice.

But Mankato West’s finishing power in the stroke races proved decisive between those relay hits. In backstroke, Sam Kunkel delivered a meet-swinging win (1:02.62), and in breaststroke, Simmons came back again to take the 100 breast (1:06.48), closing the door before the final relay and locking in the team victory.

The meet cracked open immediately in the 200 medley relay, where Saint Thomas Academy’s A group — Parker Miller, Luke Mechtel, Paidon McGuire, and Kayden Greeley — hit first in 1:34.67. Northfield followed with John Tracy, James Graham, Parker Malecha and Odin Bergs in 1:40.80, with Breck/Blake’s Minh Truong, Jackson Wright, March, and Bennett O’Halloran close behind in 1:40.94, setting an immediate tone that the relays were going to matter all afternoon.

In the 200 freestyle, Northfield landed the first individual punch as Will Redetzke ripped a 1:44.11 for the win, holding off Saint Thomas Academy’s Paidon McGuire (1:44.53) and Pascal Zeruhn (1:47.29). It tightened the chase pack early and kept Northfield firmly planted in the team race.

The 200 IM swung momentum right back to Saint Thomas Academy, with Parker Miller taking control in 1:56.04, while Orono countered with a big second from Eli Fish (1:59.40). Orono’s Ben Mitchell grabbed third in 1:59.51, keeping the top of the standings tightly clustered behind the Cadets.

Pure speed took over in the 50 free as Luke Mechtel popped a 20.98 to lead the field. Sartell’s Thomas Runkle followed in 21.92, with Northfield’s Odin Bergs sliding into third at 21.99, and the sprint points once again spread across three different programs.

Diving delivered the first major shake-up of the meet, and Orono took full advantage. Gideon Fish led the way with a dominant 470.25, and Orono doubled up in the top three as Bjorn Jaenchen added another high finish with a score of 386.85, with Melrose/Sauk Centre’s Andrue Stalboerger splitting them in second with a score of 440.80. The board event yanked Orono right into the thick of the title chase and injected real tension into the standings.

The 100 butterfly came down to the final touch, with Paidon McGuire winning for Saint Thomas Academy in 51.40 by just one-hundredth over Northfield’s Will Redetzke at 51.41. Breck/Blake added another big podium finish with Teddy Frerichs taking third in 52.21, but the headline was STA answering Orono’s diving surge with a clutch sprint-fly win.

Northfield kept pushing in the 100 freestyle behind Odin Bergs, who took the win in 48.80. Sartell stayed dangerous with Sawyer Albjerg (48.83) and Thomas Runkle (49.30) finishing right behind him, and suddenly the race for second overall was heating up with multiple teams trading blows.

Distance brought its own swing in the 500 free, where St. Thomas Academy’s Pascal Zeruhn controlled the race in 4:52.11. Breck/Blake stayed right there with Jackson Wright second in 4:54.71, while Saint Thomas Academy answered with Leo Ritzenthaler in third at 4:56.26 to keep their lead from shrinking too much as the meet entered its back half.

The 200 free relay became the mid-meet hammer, and Saint Thomas Academy swung it hard. Luke Mechtel, Kayden Greeley, Pascal Zeruhn, and Leo Ritzenthaler blazed a 1:26.48 to win the race, with Sartell’s Thomas Runkle, Sawyer Albjerg, Nolan Snyder, and Hayden Lenarz chasing them in 1:28.53 and Breck/Blake’s Teddy Frerichs, Mihn Truong, Bennett O’Halloran, and Ben Sznewajs right behind in 1:30.42.

Breck/Blake’s Bennett O’Halloran took a rare non-STA win in the 100 Back in a time of 54.01, followed by Fergus Falls senior Reece Hansen in 54.90. Eli Fish of Orono scored another top 3 finish in the meet, placing third in 56.04

The 100 breaststroke brought another Cadet highlight, with Luke Mechtel winning in 56.62. Winona’s Matthew Baumgartner placed second with a time of 58.57. Saint Thomas Academy added even more with Parker Miller touching third in 58.79 continuing the theme of multiple swimmers scoring high in the same event.

The meet closed in the 400 free relay with Saint Thomas Academy finishing the job in style. Pascal Zeruhn, Leo Ritzenhthaler, Parker Miller, and Paidon McGuire won in 3:11.94, with Sartell St. Stephen finished in a distant second with the team of Thomas Runkle, Sawyer Albjerg, Nolan Snyder, and Hayden Lenarz in a time of 3:17.25 and Northfield took third in 3:20.58 behind Will Redetzke, John Tracy, James Graham, and Will Udelhofen. That final relay locked in both the team title and the final podium order.

Saint Thomas Academy dominated the meet from the opening relay through the final touch, winning all three relays, piling up victories across the sprint and stroke events, and pairing that firepower with relentless depth throughout the lineup. The Cadets were able to answer every surge from the field, whether it came from Orono’s diving or Northfield’s sprint speed, and by the closing events the outcome was no longer in doubt.

After the meet, Saint Thomas Academy head coach John Barnes summed it up simply:

“I am so proud of the STA program. The True Team meet is all about racing. Today’s display of Saint Thomas Academy heart, passion, and pride was awesome.”

Final Team Scores

1. Saint Thomas Academy — 2128.5
2. Orono — 1777
3. Northfield — 1767
4. BreckBlake — 1618
5. Sartell St. Stephen — 1597
6. Grand Rapids — 1566
7. Delano–Watertown–Mayer — 1344
8. Benilde–St. Margaret’s — 1209.5
9. Winona & Cotter — 1184.5
10. Melrose/Sauk Centre — 1085
11. Fergus Falls — 1038
12. Mankato West — 1007.5

Apple Valley used depth in the middle and distance events and strong performances in the final stretch to earn a 97–85 varsity victory over Lakeville South in a South Suburban Conference dual that remained close through the second half of the meet.

Lakeville South opened the night with a win in the 200 Medley Relay as Grady Evenson, Brendan Mattson, Nathan Hotchkiss, and Bennett Nesbitt touched first in 1:45.63, edging Apple Valley’s A relay (1:49.68) and grabbing the early lead.

Apple Valley responded immediately in the 200 Freestyle, sweeping the top three scoring spots behind Tyden Tompkins (2:03.68), Ethan Wetrosky (2:11.49), and Aedyn Troche (2:18.61). That sweep flipped the team score and gave the Eagles early momentum.

The Eagles added more ground in the 200 IM, where Gabe Lenzen delivered a strong win in 1:59.94, followed by teammate Javier Laffitte in third and Andrew Kaiser in fifth, while Lakeville South’s Aiden Nguyen placed second (2:12.16) to keep the Panthers within range.

Sprint speed favored Lakeville South in the 50 Freestyle, as Evenson won in 23.20 and Mattson followed in 23.31, but Apple Valley countered with points from Ernesto Van Beverhoudt, Braden Rick, and Jack Groeller, limiting the swing.

Apple Valley gained critical separation on the diving boards. Charlie Peterson dominated the 1-meter event with a winning score of 234.90, while teammate Reid Ahnemann placed third and Jeffrey Simon Burton added fifth, creating one of the night’s largest point swings.

Lakeville South answered in the butterfly, sweeping the top two spots behind Nguyen (56.48) and Hotchkiss (59.94). Apple Valley stayed close with scoring swims from Aidan Kahle, Van Beverhoudt, and Hunter Barnhart, keeping the Eagles narrowly in front.

The Panthers picked up another key win in the 100 Freestyle as Nesbitt touched first in 54.71, but Apple Valley again stacked points behind Rick, Gordon Sutton, and Brock Johnson, preserving its advantage.

Distance racing proved pivotal. Apple Valley swept the top three spots in the 500 Freestyle with Laffitte winning in 5:46.80, followed by Wetrosky (5:49.66) and John Klopp (6:15.24), extending the Eagles’ lead heading into the relays.

Lakeville South responded in the 200 Free Relay, as the A relay of Nesbitt, Jack Wheeler, Nguyen, and Hotchkiss captured the win in 1:38.75, but Apple Valley stayed close with strong finishes from its A and B relays to keep the meet within reach.

The backstroke again went to Lakeville South with Mattson winning in 1:00.31, but Apple Valley countered with Kahle (1:03.38) and Troche (1:11.44) adding valuable points.

Apple Valley delivered another decisive swing in the 100 Breaststroke, sweeping the top three places behind Lenzen (1:03.29), Klopp (1:15.42), and Mac Wells (1:17.75), giving the Eagles a solid cushion heading into the final relay.

Lakeville South closed the night with a win in the 400 Free Relay in 3:31.57, but Apple Valley had already built enough of a lead to secure the team victory.

For the first time since its incarnation, Delano–Watertown–Mayer is taking home the Spirit Hammer.

In a marquee conference showdown and one of the most anticipated duals of the season, DWM edged Hutchinson 94–89 Thursday night, snapping a multi-year drought in the rivalry and reclaiming the traveling trophy after a meet that stayed in doubt until the final relay.

DWM struck first in varsity action by winning the 200 Medley Relay. The quartet of Gavin Pryde, Luke Grosshuesch, Zach Lohmann, and Henry Becker touched first in 1:44.40, just ahead of Hutchinson’s A relay (1:44.71), setting the tone for a night of razor-thin margins.

The Tigers kept momentum in the 200 Freestyle as MacKay Hoglund earned the win in 1:56.09, while Hutchinson countered with Jared Templin close behind (1:57.32). DWM added more points with Mark Milburn placing third, building an early cushion.

Hutchinson responded in the 200 IM behind Leyton Yerks, who controlled the race for the win in 2:02.18, with teammate Anton Isenberg placing third. DWM stayed close with Henry Becker and Luke Grosshuesch both scoring, keeping the team totals tight.

Sprint speed swung toward Hutchinson in the 50 Freestyle, where Graham O’Neill surged to victory in 23.49, edging DWM’s Harrison Merten (23.54) and Gavin Pryde (23.96), trimming the DWM lead.

DWM gained crucial ground on the diving boards. Oscar Hoglund delivered a dominant performance to win with a score of 234.10, followed by teammate Oliver Sathre in second, giving the Tigers a major point swing in the middle of the meet.

Butterfly racing kept the battle tight. Hutchinson’s Billy Witte captured the 100 Fly in 57.68, but DWM answered with strong scoring from Zach Lohmann and additional depth finishes that kept the Tigers narrowly in front.

The 100 Freestyle again went to Hutchinson as Jared Templin won in 51.71, while DWM stayed close with Henry Becker (52.03) and Harrison Merten (53.54) scoring behind him.

Distance racing provided a big lift for Hutchinson in the 500 Freestyle, where Leyton Yerks picked up his second win of the night in 4:58.41. DWM limited the swing with Mark Milburn (5:21.93) and MacKay Hoglund (5:30.49) both finishing in the top three.

Relays proved pivotal down the stretch. Hutchinson claimed the 200 Free Relay in 1:34.50, but DWM answered with points from both its A and B relays to keep the overall margin within a single event heading into the final races.

Hutchinson grabbed another key win in the 100 Backstroke behind Ivan Jennissen (58.76), but DWM again countered with depth as Gavin Pryde and Zach Lohmann added important points.

The turning point came in the 100 Breaststroke. Luke Grosshuesch delivered a massive win for DWM in 1:02.41, while teammate Isaac Waller added more scoring behind Hutchinson’s Isenberg and O’Neill, pushing the Tigers back in front heading into the final relay.

Everything came down to the 400 Free Relay — and Hutchinson struck first, winning the event in 3:35.41. But DWM’s A and B relays both scored, and when the points were tallied, the Tigers had done just enough to hold on.

When the final scoreboard flashed, Delano–Watertown–Mayer had secured the breakthrough win 94–89, reclaiming the Spirit Hammer and ending a six-year drought in one of the conference’s fiercest rivalries.

Eagan closed out the meet with clutch relay and sprint performances to secure a 102–84 varsity victory over Rosemount in a competitive South Suburban Conference dual that stayed tight through the middle events before the Wildcats pulled away late.

Rosemount struck first in varsity action by winning the 200 Medley Relay, as the A relay touched first in 1:47.06, edging Eagan’s A team (1:49.52) and B relay (1:51.88). That early relay win gave the Irish an initial boost on the scoreboard.

Eagan answered quickly in the 200 Freestyle behind Brad Simpson, who placed second in 1:51.65, while Rosemount’s Wes Knapp controlled the race for the win in 1:50.28. Both teams stacked points through the top four, keeping the meet close.

The 200 IM proved pivotal for Rosemount early, with a 1–2 finish from Nolen Hansen (2:09.28) and Nikita Grinberg (2:09.70). Eagan limited the swing with solid swims from Liam Wefring (2:11.74) and Ian Chong (2:19.19), keeping the team race within reach.

Sprint speed favored Eagan in the 50 Freestyle as Louis Decattoire captured the win in 23.37, followed by teammate Marduk Alkhas (24.10). Rosemount’s Emmett Vo placed third (25.52), but Eagan’s front-end speed helped even the score.

A major swing came on the diving boards. Jacob Campbell delivered a dominant win for Eagan with a score of 235.80, while teammate Ethan Scott added third-place points. Rosemount countered with Zach Manwarren in second (189.65), but Eagan gained critical ground.

Butterfly racing stayed tight, with Decattoire doubling up for Eagan by winning the 100 Fly in 55.91. Rosemount answered with Mackenzie Schroeder (59.18) and Jase Hansen (1:00.29) scoring just behind him, keeping the dual within reach.

Rosemount briefly regained momentum in the 100 Freestyle, as Nolen Hansen picked up his second individual win in 51.59. Eagan countered with Harrison Grommesch (55.67) and Alden Erickson (56.11) adding important points.

Distance racing tilted the meet back toward Rosemount early in the 500 Freestyle, where Knapp and Grinberg finished 1–2 in 5:01.11 and 5:04.05. Eagan stayed close with Simpson in third (5:04.13), preventing the Irish from opening a bigger gap.

Relays proved to be the turning point. Eagan captured the 200 Free Relay with its A team touching first in 1:35.83, ahead of Rosemount’s A relay (1:41.07). That swing pushed the Wildcats into the lead heading into the final stretch.

Rosemount answered in the 100 Backstroke as Jase Hansen won in 1:01.05, but Eagan countered with Hunter Brandner placing second (1:04.05) to keep the overall margin narrow.

The breaststroke again favored Rosemount at the top, with Schroeder winning in 1:04.23, but Eagan stacked points behind him with Wefring (1:06.67) and Pranav Ontivillu (1:11.70), setting up the final relay with the Wildcats holding a slim lead.

Everything came down to the 400 Free Relay — and it could not have been closer. Eagan’s A relay surged to victory in 3:30.23, edging Rosemount by just 0.10 seconds (3:30.33). That razor-thin finish sealed the team win for the Wildcats and provided the final margin on the scoreboard.

Farmington closed out the meet with big performances in the relays and distance events to secure a 95–85 varsity victory over Eastview in a dual that stayed tight deep into the second half of the lineup. While Eastview picked up key wins in the middle of the meet, Farmington’s depth and late-event execution proved decisive.

The Tigers struck first in the 200 Medley Relay as Zhijia Qin, Aidan Fitch, Lincoln Joyner, and Brian Stankey combined for a win in 1:49.04, edging Farmington’s A relay (1:50.06). Eastview added more points with its B relay, giving the Lightning an early advantage.

Farmington answered immediately in the 200 Freestyle behind Justin Raymond, who controlled the race to win in 1:55.86. Eastview countered with Pierson Krych (1:58.58) and Carson Osendorf (2:00.11), but Farmington stayed close with points from Noah Roth and Evan Archer.

The Falcons gained momentum in the 200 IM, where Hantruy Nguyen delivered a strong win in 2:06.69. Eastview followed with Qin and Joyner finishing second and third, but Farmington added more points through Collin Hawkins to keep the team totals climbing.

Sprint speed belonged to Farmington in the 50 Freestyle as Tyler West touched first in 22.50, just ahead of Eastview’s Aidan Fitch (22.60). Both teams stacked points through the middle of the field, keeping the score within reach.

Farmington picked up another important swing on the diving boards. Emilio Loza captured the 1-meter diving win with a score of 125.20, while Eastview’s Cameron Andrewsen placed second, but Farmington’s advantage continued to grow.

West doubled up for Farmington in the 100 Butterfly, winning in 57.22, with Eastview’s Lincoln Joyner close behind in 57.34. Additional points from Daniel Budde helped Farmington edge the event.

Eastview answered in the 100 Freestyle as Aidan Fitch powered to a win in 51.06, followed by Farmington’s Eli Montgomery (51.32) and Eastview’s Carson Osendorf (53.83). The Lightning briefly trimmed the deficit as the meet headed into the distance events.

Farmington delivered one of the biggest moments of the night in the 500 Freestyle. Justin Raymond earned his second individual win in 5:17.36, holding off Krych (5:22.60) and Stankey (5:23.15), creating valuable separation on the scoreboard.

Relay depth continued to favor Farmington in the 200 Free Relay. The Tigers’ A relay of West, Montgomery, Nguyen, and Raymond surged to victory in 1:33.18, while Eastview’s A relay followed in 1:37.54, widening the Farmington lead.

Eastview fought back in the 100 Backstroke with a 1–2 finish from Finn Heilek (57.53) and Qin (57.85), while Farmington answered with points from Budde and Wyatt Conine to keep the meet from swinging too far back.

The final individual event again went to Farmington, as Nguyen completed a strong night with a win in the 100 Breaststroke (1:03.64). Eastview added points through Tucker Kase and Brian Stankey, but Farmington remained in control heading into the final relay.

Farmington sealed the dual in the 400 Free Relay, where West, Montgomery, Raymond, and Nguyen touched first in 3:33.92, followed by Eastview’s A relay (3:37.33), locking in the team victory.

In the end, Farmington’s strength in the IM, distance, and relays proved just enough to hold off Eastview, securing a 95–85 win in a dual that featured close races and momentum swings throughout the night.

Sartell and Moorhead traded momentum throughout a tightly contested dual Tuesday night, with the Sabres ultimately holding off the Spuds for a narrow 95–91 varsity victory. The meet stayed within a handful of points most of the way, and the outcome wasn’t secured until Sartell’s strong showing in the final relay.

Moorhead struck first in the varsity 200 Medley Relay as Alex Hebert, Sahan Nagodavithana, Francis Casey, and Paddy Kellam touched first in 1:45.40, outscoring Sartell’s A and B relays and giving the Spuds an early edge.

Sartell answered immediately in the 200 Freestyle behind Hayden Lenarz, who won in 1:51.34, while Moorhead countered with Francis Casey (1:54.82) and Alex Hebert (1:56.38) to keep the team score close.

The 200 IM delivered another swing toward Moorhead as Sahan Nagodavithana claimed the win in 2:06.85, but Sartell limited the damage with scoring swims from Callum Huberty, Willis Lin, and Elias Finnern, preventing the Spuds from opening a gap.

Sprint speed favored Sartell in the 50 Freestyle, where Thomas Runkle won in 22.72, followed by teammate Sawyer Albjerg (23.26). Moorhead stayed in range with points from Matthew Brendemuhl and Gavin DeKrey, keeping the meet within reach.

A key moment came on the diving boards, where Sartell’s Jack Rodine delivered a big win with a score of 239.15, while Moorhead added depth points behind him. The diving event helped Sartell reclaim momentum heading into the middle of the meet.

Sartell continued to build in the 100 Butterfly as Hayden Lenarz picked up his second win of the night in 54.86, with teammate Vincent Lin adding third. Moorhead stayed close with Francis Casey finishing second, but Sartell again outscored the Spuds in the event.

The Sabres added more separation in the 100 Freestyle, sweeping the top two spots with Sawyer Albjerg (50.34) and Thomas Runkle (50.95). Moorhead’s Gavin DeKrey placed third to keep his team within striking distance.

Distance racing went to Moorhead in the 500 Freestyle, where Matthew Brendemuhl earned the win in 5:05.32. Sartell countered effectively with Nolan Snyder (5:15.49) and Silas Albjerg (5:30.64) finishing second and third, limiting the point swing and keeping Sartell narrowly in front.

Moorhead gained critical ground in the 200 Free Relay as its A relay of Nagodavithana, Brendemuhl, Casey, and Hebert surged to victory in 1:31.65, trimming the Sartell lead heading into the final individual events.

The backstroke proved pivotal for Sartell. Alex Hebert won the 100 Backstroke for Moorhead in 58.48, but Sartell stacked points behind him with Nolan Snyder, Jack Lewis, and Silas Albjerg all scoring, swinging the team totals back in Sartell’s favor.

Moorhead picked up another individual win in the 100 Breaststroke as Sahan Nagodavithana touched first in 1:03.08, but Sartell answered with three scorers—Willis Lin, Hunter Jepperson, and Elias Finnern—to protect its slim lead heading into the final relay.

With the meet on the line, Sartell delivered in the 400 Free Relay. The A relay of Thomas Runkle, Sawyer Albjerg, Nolan Snyder, and Hayden Lenarz captured the win in 3:25.57, sealing the Sabres’ victory and preventing any late comeback from Moorhead.